Rod peotector



NOV. 1 I R. H. PE NW ARDEN I ROD PROTECTOR Filed Auz.1l, 1926 INVENTOR ATTO R N EY Patented Nov. 1, 1927.

ROBERT vPENVVAEDEN, 0F BEARDSTOWN, ILLINOIS.

ROD raornoron.

Application filed August/ 11, 1926. 7 Serial No. 128,630;

In truck constructions for freight cars the brakes on the diiierent wheels are equalized by suitable levers and connecting rods and the lever is fulcrumed at a pointa little above the spring board and extends downwardly to a point below the said spring board where it is connected with a rod,

which rod has its opposite end connected to a second lever, and the rod which connects the two levers hangs in a horizontal position. These rods are connected to the levels by pins and the pins frequently work loose. so

that the rods fall onto the track and cause derailments of the car and damages to the track and rolling stock. ltis, therefore, to be considered the object of this invention to providean extremely cheap easily attached and thoroughly effective means for support ing such connecting rods even *when the same have been disassociated from connection withthe levers.

To the attainment oi the foregoing the invention consists in the improvement as hereinafter described and definitely claimed.

In the drawings: I

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a truck to illustrate the application of my improve ment thereon.

Figure 2 is a perspective view looking toward the upper face of the spring board and showing the manner in which the improve ment is arranged thereon.

Figure 3 is an end View of the improve ment.

Referring now to the drawings in detail,

the numeral 1 designates an ordinary truck construction for freight cars and 2 the channeled spring board which extends across the truck andon which the coil springs of the car rest. a

I do not believe it necessary to refer to the details of construction of the brake {HF tuating means which are associated with these trucks as the same are well known in the art. The brakes "for theditlerent wheels of the car are equalized by suitable...

levers 3 and connecting rods 4 for said levers. The levers 3 are fulcrumed at a point a little above the spring board 2. as indicated by the numeral 5, and extend downwardly to a point below the spring board, the rod 4 being thus arranged below and transversely of the spring board. a The rod 4; has its opposite ends widened and bifurcated toreceive therein the ends of the levers 3 pivotpins 6 pasing through the arms thus provided and through the ends of the levers, and these pivot pins are usually engaged cotterpins which, incident to the vibrations to which the truck is subjected, frequently become dislodged sothat the pivot pins become loose and becomelost.

central body portion 7 that has its ends rounded to provide eyes 8 and from said eyes are formed extensions that provide the same with books 9. These hooks 9 are designed for frictional contact with the side flanges of the channeled spring board 2 so that the eyes 8 are arranged in a line with the said flanges directly below the spring board, and receive the connecting rod 4 tl'ierethrough. By this arrangement it will be seen that the connecting rod 4 will be at all times properly guided and effectively supported, even should the pivot pins which associate the levers 3 with the said rod. be come loosened or lost. 7

The simplicity and advantages of the improvement will, it is thought, be apparent to those skilled in the art to which such invention relates when the foregoing description has been read in connection with the accompanying drawings. llaving described the invention, I claim The combination with the wheeled truck of a freight car having the usual transversely arranged channeled spring supporting board, and the equalizing levers for the brakes, which latter are fulcrumed above the spring board, and the connecting rod which pivotally secures the oppositely disposed levers, of a support for the f connecting rod, comprising a spring wire member having its ends rounded to provide eyes through which the connecting rod passes and the ends of the said eyes being extended to provide spring hooks which clampingly engage the flanged sides of the spring board.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. 

